Comparison of the Sedative and Analgesic Effects of Dexmedetomidine-Remifentanil and Dexmedetomidine-Sufentanil for Liposuction: A Prospective Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine had sedative and analgesic effects and did not produce significant respiratory depression at therapeutic doses. AIMS: To compare the sedative and analgesic effects and safety of dexmedetomidine combined with remifentanil or sufentanil in patients undergoing liposuction. METHODS: A total of 100 subjects were randomized 1:1 to two groups: Group R and Group S. First, patients were administered midazolam 0.02 mg·kg-1. Anesthesia was induced with an intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine 1 µg kg-1 (15 min) and remifentanil 0.1 µg kg-1 min-1 (Group R) or sufentanil 0.1 µg kg-1h-1 (Group S). Anesthesia was maintained with an intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine 1.0 µg kg-1h-1, midazolam 0.015 mg kg-1h-1, remifentanil 0.1 µg kg-1min-1 (Group R), or sufentanil 0.1 µg kg-1h-1 (Group S). Hemodynamic and respiratory changes, modified OAA/S score and BIS values, postoperative Visual Analogue Scale pain scores, satisfaction of the patient and surgical team with the procedure, and adverse events and recovery time were recorded. RESULTS: Group R received significantly less midazolam and midazolam per hour compared to Group S (Group R vs. Group S: 3.4 ± 1.7 mg vs. 5.1 ± 2.0 mg, P < 0.0001; 1.5 ± 0.7 mg/h vs. 1.9 ± 0.6 mg/h, P = 0.002). The incidence of physical or verbal expressions of pain at the start of surgery was significantly lower in Group R compared to Group S (2 [4.3%] vs. 12 [26.7%], P = 0.003). Patient satisfaction with the procedure was significantly higher in Group R compared to Group S (3.9 ± 0.3 vs. 3.1 ± 0.3, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine-remifentanil and dexmedetomidine-sufentanil were effective and safe sedative and analgesic agents for liposuction. Hemodynamic stability was maintained. Dexmedetomidine-remifentanil might be associated with improved analgesic effects compared to dexmedetomidine-sufentanil. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II: Evidence was obtained from at least one properly designed randomized controlled trial. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .